3 Tips for a Great Outdoor Living Space
3 Tips for a Great Outdoor Living Space
All images from bhg.com
In Colorado our outdoor living season is short. Unless we install a fire pit (and there are no fire restrictions), and are willing to bundle up.
I absolutely love summer and early fall in Colorado. The evenings are cool and there are very few bugs with which to contend. Our rental property is small which meant when we lived there we were also in need of extra living space. We put an outdoor tent over our patio, bought cushioned chairs and created an oasis which acted as a second living room day and night for several months.
Here are a few tips for making a great outdoor living space.
Tip #1 Treat it like an indoor living space.
I found I was more inclined to go outside and stay outside when I was comfortable. Two things that made the list were shade, and lots of it, and cushioned furniture. The hard plastic chairs may be inexpensive, but they are uncomfortable. We weren’t willing to pay full price for furniture, either so we hit Craigslist and found a used patio set with cushioned chairs, a loveseat, and footrests. Jackpot!
Items you may want for your outdoor living space:
- Furniture with cushions
- Side tables or coffee tables (to eat and set drinks on)
- Covering like an awning, tent, or umbrella. Bonus to having a tent, you can put up curtains to block intense sun.
- Rugs made for the outdoors. We used this on a concrete patio to save our crawling baby’s knees.
- Lighting for evening. White Christmas lights do the job well.
Tip #2 Play with color.
Because the sun is so intense here in Colorado, it’s a good idea to add a punch of color to your outdoor space to give it some presence and pop! I like to experiment with color outside—so bold bright yellows, pinks, and greens become center stage for me. If you’ve always wanted to try bold color inside, but were afraid to, use the outdoor space as a testing place for your interior décor ideas.
Tip #3 Bring in plants.
Unless your living space is surrounded by lush gardens, you may want to consider large pots of plants to bring a sense of coziness and privacy to your living space. Plants liven up an interior and will do the same for your outdoor space. Flowering plants may be nice, but be ready for bees to do their job. You may want to do an all green planter with a tree you can bring inside during the winter months. Or use ornamental grasses and succulents to create a modern feel.
One of my favorite things about all outdoor living spaces is that when you spend time making it comfortable for you it will be very comfortable for others. You are able to go from yourselves to a party quickly! Now’s a great time to start.
More inspiration is available on our Pinterest board: Outdoor Living Space.
What do you like most about your #outdoorlivingspace ? What do you wish you had?
